Combined heat and moisture generator.



.i. L. WALTER, JR.

COMBINED HEAT AND MOJSTURE GENERATOR1 APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 20, 916.

1,240, 108'. Patented Sept. 11, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

J. L. WALTER, 1a.

COMBINED HEAT AND MOISTURE GENERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 20. 1916.

Patented Sept. 11, 1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

JwephL. l/QZZh/E UNITED STATES OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

JOSEPH L., WALTER, JR

COMBINED HEAT AND MOISTURE GENERATOR.

- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 11, 1917.

Application filed September 20, 1916. Serial No. 121,336.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH L. WALTER, J12, a citizen of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of'Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Combined Heat and Moisture Generators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a combined heat and moisture generator designed particularly for use as a drier, static electricity dissipator or eliminator and air purifier in connection with the printing presses of printing establishments, by means of which the printed sheets as they are delivered may be thoroughly dried without a subsequent olfsetting, the objections incident to the generation of static electricity prevented and the atmosphere maintained in a moist and pure condition.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a device of this character for generating and delivering heating moisture downward upon the printed sheets of paper being delivered from a printing press, whereby the sheets may be thoroughly dried Without shrinkage and without production of static electricity resulting from friction in a dry atmosphere.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described which may be arranged to overlie the delivery mechanism of the press and to direct the heat and vapor downward against the sheets of paper, thereby obviating any liability of the scorching or burning of the sheets or delivery tape of the delivery mechanism, as is liable to occur in the use of drying and electricity dissipating burners of the types heretofore in use.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described which is adapted to utilize as a fuel agent electricity, gas or any of the hydrocarbon fuels, and which in case of the use of burner mechanism utilizing as or light fuel will supply moisture in suff icient quantity to prevent the formation of noxious gases and to keep 1 the air in a pure and wholesome condition.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described which is simple of construction, re-

liable and efficient in action, and which may be manufactured and sold at a comparatively low cost.

With these and other objects in view, .the invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a. drier and static electricity eliminator constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2' is a view in side elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the device.

Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section thereof.

Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse section on the line 55 of Fig. 4.

In the present instance, I have shown the device embodying for use as a heating medium burners designed to employ ordinary illuminating gas as a heating agent, although it is to be understood that an electric heater or burners for utilizing any of the hydrocarbon fuels may be employed in lieu thereof.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the generator as a whole, which comprises a top plate 2, preferably of oblong rectangular form in plan and having its marginal edges down-turned, as shown at 3, to form an inverted dish-shaped hood, whereby the heat and vapor are adapted to be confined and conducted or deflected as hereinafter fully described. The marginal portions 3 may have their edges turned upward, as shown at 4, to provide a gutter or channel to collect any small amount of moisture which may accumulate incident to a sweating action and so as to prevent dripping of such moisture downward and retain it until dissipated by the heat of the plate.

The device is designed to be suspended over the delivery mechanism of the press in any suitable manner. In the present instance I have shown a suspending element 5, which is employed in the illustrated embodiment as a gas supply pipe for furnishing gas to the burner or burners. To this pipe is attached an armed bracket 6, the arms of which are suitably secured to the top plate 2, said arms being connected by a collar 7 embracing the pipe 5 and secured thereto in any suitable manner. Also secured to the pipe 5 above the collar 7 is a second collar 8 from which extend to the corners of the plate 2 stay or brace rods 9 acting in v conjunction with the bracket 6 and the parts of the burner mechanism to firmly and stably support the device in position above the delivery mechanism.

Disposed beneath the plate 2 in the space bounded by its down-turned marginal portions 3 is a burner mechanism shown in the present instance as comprising a pair of perforated burner pipes 10 arranged in alinement with each other and connected at their inner or proximate ends by a union 11 which also connects said burner pipes with the lower end of the gas supply pipe 5. The burner pipes are suitably closed at their outer ends and are connected with the union by interposed short pipe sections in which are arranged mixers 12 for the admission of air to combine with the gas and controlling valves 13 for governing the supply of the fuel as required, said valvesbeing provided with extension handles which project outwardl beyond the side of the generator, so that t ey may be conveniently manipulated. Perforations in the pipes for the issuance of gas are arranged immediately below a battle or deflector )late 14: so that the jets of flame from the ignited gas will impinge against the underside of said plate and directly heat the same and indirectly heat the top plate 2 by radiation and conduction therefrom.

The battle or deflector plate 14 is generally similar in form to the plate 2 but is somewhat smaller in size so as to lie within the space formed by the depending marginal portions 3, and is provided wlth curved or downwardly bent marginal portions 15 which lie in spaced relation to the portions 3, thus providing between the plates an interposed passage or channel for the upward circulation of hot air and vapor between the plates and finally outward through vent openings 16 in the top plate or hood, three of such openings being shown in the present instance, although it is to be understood that any number may be employed. The function of this battle plate is to direct the flames of gas downward so as to cause a down draft of the currents of hot air produced thereby, which action is promoted by the dished formation of said plate, and also to provide, as set forth. the intervening channel for the up ward passage of a portion of the heat gen erated and which is confined and held from escaping laterally by the down-turned portions 3 acting as guiding surfaces or defiectors.

Arranged below the respective burners are longitiulinally extending supports 17 in the form of flanged guide rails, for detachably holding or supporting in position water pans 18, which are provided with projecting flanges 19 to slidably engage the flanges of the rails, by which they are suspended in position in such manner as to be slidably applied and removed. These pans ar" adapted to be filled with water which will be heated from the burners to efi'ect the generation of vapor, and this'vapor will commingle with the currents of air heated by the burners, commingled currents of air and vapor being forced downward tby the deflector plate against the surfaces of the printed sheets of paper being delivered by the delivery mechanism of the press. The printed sheets of paper will thus be subjected to a drying heat which will rapidly and uniformly dry the ink thereon, and as this blanket of heating fluid over the surface of paper will be in a comparatively moist condition shrinking of the paper during the drying action will be prevented and at the same time the generation of static electricity will be prevented, or any electricity which may be present in the paper will be carried otf or eliminated by the amount of heated air. In the actual use of the invention it has been found that by subjecting the printed sheets of paper to the drying action of a moist body of heated air any tendency to shrinkage, such as ocours in the use of dry heat due to the driving off from the paper of moisture contained therein, is effectually prevented and the sheet kept in a normal condition, so that there will be no variations liable to cause trouble and difiiculty in securing registration in subsequent printing actions upon the same sheet, as in multi-color printing. Furthermore, it has been found that the ink will be dried so rapidly and uniformly that no subsequent oii'set will occur or any deleterious action upon the ink. By thus subjecting the printed sheets to the down draft of a fluid heating medium from above, or from an overhead heater, all liability of burning or scorching the paper or the delivery tapes of the delivery mechanism will also be avoided.

The moisture from the pans 18 will keep the heated air from the burners in a suiticientl y moist condition to prevent the formation of carbon monoxid or other noxious or injurious gases, but in orderv to further provide for the purification of the air at all points about and in proximity to the press I preferably provide one or more upper vaporizing pans 19, which are held in an elevated position above the top plate by supports 20 on which they rest, and which are preferably in the form of posts notched or recessed to receive and engage the corner portions of the pan. These pans are arranged above the outer vent opening 16 so as to be heated by the upflowing currents of hot air and vapor from the burners and lower pans, thereby evaporating the water therein and producing moisture whereby the surrounding atmosphere will be maintained in moist condition and the formation of any noxious gases above the top plate prevented. The moist condition of the air thus provided for further operates to prevent the generation of static electricity due tothe friction of the rapidly moving sheets of paper during the printing operation, as will be readily understood.

It will, of course, be understood that the device may be made of any size to suit the width of the delivery mechanism of any printing press and in use may be supported in proximity to the delivery mechanism in such a manner as to avoid interference with the same and to permit such access to the parts of the delivery mechanism as is necessary in adjusting the tapes, making repairs, etc. It will also be understood that in the use of'gasolene, kerosene or other hydrocarbon burners, the pipe may serve, as in the present instance, as a fuel supply conductor, and that in the use of electric heaters the suspending device may be made in the form of a cable carrying the electric conductors. The device may be so supported for use in connection with presses having combined fly and sheet delivery mechanism as to permit the device to be drawn out of the way of the fly when used. This may be done by joining the pipe 5 or otherwise mounting it to permit the device to be moved upward or toward one side of the tracks. By adjusting the evaporating pans 18 inwardly and outwardly more or less of the surface of the water contained in said pans will be exposed to the heat from the burners, and consequcntly the amount of vapor supplied may thus be easily and conveniently regulated.

1. An overhead drier and static neutralizer for use in conjunction with the delivery mechanisms of printing presses, comprising means for producing a volume of heated air and water vapor, and means for directing the same downward against the surface of the sheets of paper being delivered by the said delivery mechanism.

2. An overhead drier and static neutralizer for use in conjunction with the delivery mechanisms of printing presses, comprising asupp'ort, heating means carried by said support, means arranged Within the zone of said heating means for producing a watery vapor, and means for deflecting the heated air and vapor downward against the printed sheets of paper carried by the delivery mechanism.

3. A device of the character described comprising a top plate provided with downturned marginal portions forming a hood, heating means arranged within the hood, :1 water container arranged within the zone of action of the heating means for the production of vapor, and a deflector arranged for deflecting the heated air and vapor in a downward direction.

4. A device of the character described comprising a top plate having down-turned marginal port-ions forming a hood, heating means arranged within the hood, a water container arranged beneath the heating means and within the heating Zone thereof for the production of vapor, and a deflector disposed between the heating means and top plate for'directing the hot air and vapor downward.

5. A device of the character described comprising a receptacle open at the bottom thereof, heating means arranged Within said receptacle, water containing means supported beneath the heating means within the heating'zone thereof, and means for directing the air heated by said heating means and the vapor from the .moisture containing means in a downward direction.

6. A device of the character described comprising a hood embodying a perforated top plate having down-turned marginal portions, heating means arranged beneath the perforated top plate and Within the space bounded by said down-turned marginal portions. water containing means disposed beneath the heating means within the heating zone thereof, and a deflector disposed between the heating means and top plate and in spaced relation'to the latter to provide an intervening channel communicating with the interior of the hood.

7. A device of the character described comprising a top plate having depending marginal portions forming a hood,'heating means within the hood, water containing means disposed beneath the heating means and within theheating zone thereof and adjustable with relation thereto, and deflecting means for directing the resultant currents of hot air and vapor downwardly.

8. A .device of the character described comprising a top plate having a depending marginal portion forming a hood, heating devices arranged Within the hood, a deflector disposed between said heating devices and the hood, for directing the flames and currents of air downwardly, and water containers disposed beneath the heating means and within the heating zone thereof and adjustable to vary the amount of the surface thereof exposed to said heating means.

9. A device of the character described comprising a perforate top plate having a depending marginal portion forming a hood. means for suspending said plate, heat ing means disposed within the hood. vaporizing means disposed beneath the heating means, means for permitting a portion of the heat from the heaters to pass upward through the top plate for directing the remainder of the heat and vapor from the 1'0 evaporating pans downward and evaporating means disposed above the top plate so as to be subjected to the influence of the heat passing therethrough.

10. A device of the character described comprising a top plate having a downwardly extending marginal flange, heating means disposed within the space bounded by said flange, Water receptacles slidably sup- 10 ported with relation to said heating means,

the said top plate being provided with apertures therein,' and a deflector disposed beneath the top plate and in spaced relation thereto and having a depending marginal flange disposed in proximity to and spaced with relation to the marginal flange of the top plate.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JOSEPH L. WALTER, JR. 

